WiMAX was originally introduced to replace broadband cable networks such as DSL. Now that the IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard has been adopted, mobile applications are also supported. To meet this development, Rohde & Schwarz provides its R&S TS8970 WiMAX RF conformance test system.
The electronics company presented its R&S TS8970 to a public audience at CTIA Wireless 2007, after having previously presented it at various WiMAX conferences. Rohde & Schwarz was selected by the WiMAX Forum™ to develop this radio conformance test tester (RCTT) in line with the IEEE 802.16e mobile WiMAX standard.
The WiMAX Forum is an industry-led, non-profit corporation formed to help promote and certify the compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless products.
Based on validated test cases, the R&S TS8970 test system is a reference solution for the certification of WiMAX end products being manufactured in line with the 802.16e-2005 specification. The R&S TS8970 is based on the concept used in the market-leading R&S TS8950GW 2G/3G radio conformance test system and is therefore available as an upgrade.
The first generation already offers fully automatic measurements and complete software functionalities such as customized reporting, flexible data import/export and auto-calibration.
Market-established WiMAX OFDM/OFDMA measuring instruments from Rohde & Schwarz such as the R&S SMU200A signal generator and R&S FSQ signal analyzer can be used for the WiMAX radio conformance tests. These instruments are unsurpassed in measurement accuracy and reliability.
The R&S TS8970 supports a frequency range of 400 MHz to 6 GHz. The modular concept enhances flexibility in R&D and in pre-compliance testing. In addition to the in-band measurements specified by the WiMAX Forum, Rohde & Schwarz also provides solutions for out-of-band and radiated measurements for EMC and OTA systems as well as drive test equipment. In addition, the test system is upgradeable for multiple input multiple output (MIMO) and beam forming.